Benenden health

[sicourt]

Hi all - Has anyone got any experience of Benenden healthcare www.benenden.co.uk ? I understand from reading the bumff this is certainly not Bupa and the cover is limited, but the NHS are usually pretty good at the urgent stuff (cancer, heart) so is it worth the £10p/m they charge? Thanks in advance.

[Dolf Stoppard]

I used them a few years ago and they paid £2k for an MRI / CT / consultant visit. The expectation is that you will try the NHS first, but where I think they can come in really helpful is for serious stuff like cancer (which didn't apply to me). They certainly used to have their own hospital, and I know someone who was treated there and she couldn't praise them enough. For the money you're talking it's hard to go wrong.

[BIGDAI]

I've been with them for years - a little over £200 p.a. for my wife and me. With the caveat that they certainly aren't BUPA, I've always found then excellent.

Just a couple of months ago my wife had a rodent ulcer removed - all done within a couple of weeks of referral by the GP. She received the acknowledgement from the NHS last Saturday that they had received the referral and would be in touch to arrange a consultation!

As DS said, they expect you to investigate the NHS route first but if the waiting list is more than about 6 weeks they will take you on. The finance process is painless as they usually pay the provider direct.

Overall, I'm sure I've had much more out than I've paid in over the years.

[sicourt]

Thanks for the useful info guys. Think I will sign up the missus and me, as has been said, at the price it seems like winner. Cheers!

[So]

I used to be in Benenden when I worked at BT. I think it was 37p per month. I had the option to keep it on when I left, but wanted to cut all ties with BT so binned it.

Poor decisions of my life no. 353345.

[xx99xx]

I've had it for 3 years and never used/needed it. But like all insurance, I'll be glad to have it if I need to make a claim. Except for life insurance. I won't be glad to make a claim on that as it'll mean I'll be dead.

[Nath911t]

We've been with them for well over 10 years and have used them with no trouble at all. The hardest part is getting a Dr's appointment for the referral.

[anonymous-user]

Have had it a few years, now around £30 pm for me & wife, as knocking on a bit
I bet if I cancel it I’ll get a terrible disease & regret it !

[anonymous-user]

I know a couple of people that work for Benenden at their office here in York. They speak very highly of the company as a place to work.

[EarlofDrift]

I joined last year for £10 a month. The idea is that if your referred by your GP and if your waiting time is longer than 3 weeks they'll refer you to their own or a local private hospital.

Given my area is the worst NHS waiting lists of anywhere else in the UK I thought I 'd give it a shot.

[Russ T Bolt]

Had it for 20 years or so.

I have had a couple of things treated at their hospital in Kent, excellent service and well worth the money.

I also have private medical cover with current employer, they have spent a fortune on me in the last year.

There are a few things Benenden won't cover from memory (heart, Cancer ?) but where I live Cancer response is very quick anyway, although I did use medical cover so I could choose the Surgeon, but the wait for operation would have been same private or NHS (2 weeks).